Hyundai i30 N undergoes winter testing with Thierry Neuville.

The Hyundai i30 N, Hyundai Motor Company’s first high performance model, has been tested to the limit in Arjeplog, Sweden by FIA World Rally Championship driver Thierry Neuville as part of its final development program. Set for launch in the second half of 2017, Hyundai’s first N model draws on the brand’s motorsport experience and its fast-growing expertise in high-performance road vehicle development to deliver maximum fun on the road and on the track. 

Engineers at Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Centre conducted the winter test on the edge of the Arctic Circle, focusing on the i30 N’s performance and handling characteristics, adjusting the set-up to ensure it will be a performance vehicle for everyone. Working with Neuville, the team developed and tuned the i30 N’s dynamic systems, testing the ESC (Electronic Stability Control), LSD (Limited Slip Differential), steering, dampers, suspension and tires.

“So many people have been looking forward to this car, so it’s a pleasure for me to be testing it,” Thierry Neuville said. “The engineers have done a good job on the gearbox and the differential. There is good traction and stability in the slippery testing conditions and it’s very easy to handle. A normal driver should get a sensation similar to a race car.” Neuville has reviewed the new model’s performance on a frozen lake in temperatures as low as minus 30 °C.

The i30 N will be the third member of the i30 family, joining the five-door i30 and the i30 Wagon, which was launched at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. 

Hyundai first showcased its high performance N line-up in 2015 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. The N builds on Hyundai Motor’s successful motorsport experiences and technology capability to drive future performance-oriented and race-track-capable models forward and bring ‘the most thrilling winding road’ fun to customers who truly love cars. It capitalises on Hyundai Motor’s fast-growing strength and signifies the pace of change within the brand, matching the company’s ambition to challenge perceptions by making real and emotional connections with customers.